The eighteen men and women were introduced at a news conference on Wednesday. They were chosen from 150 applicants in what the party calls an American Idol-style vetting process.
"Our candidates are from the neighborhoods. They live there, they're raising families there, and they know what the neighborhoods need. A vote for these Republican candidates is a vote for the neighborhoods and a vote against Mike Madigan and John Cullerton," said Chris Cleveland, vice chairman, Chicago Repulican Party.
Most of the candidates are running for their first political offices.
